Romanian official suspended for ‘inappropriate comment’ in PSG-Basaksehir case
March 9 – UEFA have suspended Romanian fourth official Sebastian Coltescu until the end of the season for his role in a racism case last December.
Fenway or the highway? Klopp not under pressure from Liverpool owners
March 9 – Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is not under pressure from the club’s American owners despite the Premier League defending champion’s dramatic collapse in form.
FIFA clears the way for Motsepe at CAF as rivals withdraw in favour of ‘African unity’
By Andrew Warshaw
March 8 – The behind-the-scenes deal-making that for weeks has characterised the election for the top job in African football has resulted in three of the four candidates – Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania – pulling out at the 11th hour in favour of giving South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, the preferred choice of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a clear run for the CAF presidency.
Ahmad has ban and fine reduced at CAF but is remains out of presidential race
March 8 – Disgraced Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad has lost his appeal against his FIFA ban for corruption but has won a reduction in the length of that ban from five years to two.
Laporta wins Messi vote but will he keep him at Barca and fix the finances
March 8 – Joan Laporta was elected Barcelona president by a landslide on Sunday, taking charge of the club for a second spell but this time inheriting a financial crisis and the possible departure of Lionel Messi at the end of the season.
IFAB to trial new offside rule in China
March 8 – Having already agreed to tweak the handball rule following a clamour for change from fans and pundits alike football’s lawmakers are also set to trial what would be the biggest revamping of the offside law for a century.
Rangers’ fans condemned for covid-rule-breaking Ibrox celebration
March 8 – Rangers’ first domestic Scottish title for a decade was marred by a serious breach of Covid rules on Sunday that prompted the intervention of the country’s political leader.
Conmebol cancels March World Cup qualifiers as European clubs refuse player releases
March 8 – South America’s World Cup qualifiers in March have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, leaving continental governing body Conmebol with a headache to reschedule the fixtures in a heavily congested calendar.
AFC celebrates Women’s Football Day with 33 MA’s running activities
March 8 – The 7th AFC Women’s Football Day – coinciding with International Women’s Day – has seen 33 of the Asian Football Confederation’s member associations hold special initiatives promoting female participation in the game.
Saudi’s Mosaad stays committed to Châteauroux despite relegation threat
March 8 – Saudi prince Abdullah bin Mosaad (pictured) is closing in on the acquisition of French Ligue 2 club Châteauroux, despite the club’s imminent relegation to the third division.
FIFA’s Samoura to give keynote opening Female Leadership in Sport Summit tomorrow
March 8 – FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura (pictured) will open SIGA’s online female leadership in sport summit tomorrow.
Arsenal losses hit £54m as broadcast income plunges
By David Owen
March 6 – Arsenal, still stuck in mid-table in spite of recent promising signs, have become the fifth Premier League club so far to report pre-tax losses of more than £50 million for the covid-disrupted 2019-20 season.
Infantino denies meddling in CAF elections, but says CAF has had ‘some difficult times’
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – With exactly one week to go before African football chooses its next leader, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his recent tour of the Continent to meet with the candidates, denying he has in any way been meddling in the election process.
IFAB re-rules handball law in the ‘spirit’ of the game
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – Bowing to pressure from legions of pundits and fans frustrated about crucial goals being unfairly ruled out, football’s global lawmakers today agreed to backtrack and scrap accidental handball whenever it leads to a team-mate scoring.
Brief Champions League return is enough for Man Utd to post £68m profit
By David Owen
March 4 – This season’s Champions League may have ended in disappointment for Manchester United, but the broadcasting revenue earned for the team’s group stage participation was enough to push the Old Trafford outfit back into the black, despite the continued absence of matchday crowds.